Investigation continues into cause of Berwick house fire

BERWICK, Maine — A fire that destroyed a home on Old Sanford Road Tuesday night is still under investigation, according to Fire Chief Dennis Plante.

On Wednesday, Plante said officials were still working to determine the cause and origin of the fire, which struck the unoccupied building at approximately 9:17 p.m. Tuesday.

Plante said police were working to determine the building's homeowner. The 217 Old Sanford Road home is believed to be abandoned and a regular destination for vagrants.

Plante said although it took first responders only about ten minutes to knock the fire out, the building had already sustained heavy damage. “When the first units arrived the house was fully involved,” Plante said Tuesday night just after 10 p.m. “It's probably destroyed.”

The home, which is located down a small dirt road about 30 yards off Old Sanford Road, sustained the heaviest damage in the middle of the structure. A large section of the home's roof and several walls collapsed as a result of the blaze.

Along with Berwick, other departments responding to Tuesday's fire included North Berwick, Lebanon, and Somersworth, N.H.

Old Sanford Road remained closed past 10:30 p.m. as fire trucks and ambulances lined the roadway in the aftermath of the blaze.